Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) managed to repel Stannis Baratheon's invading forces from King's Landing at the end of last season, but he was rewarded with the loss of his title (King's Hand) and a scar on his face. (Helen Sloan / HBO)

The Season 3 trailer of “Game of Thrones” bowed Friday night — not on HBO but on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” as the pay cable channel allowed ABC to make the big reveal. See the trailer below.

Kimmel is a big “Game of Thrones” fan, having brought on as guests many members of the show’s cast, including Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke. “Thrones” will premiere March 31 on HBO, and right about now many fans are saying, “Finally!”

Season 2 favorites are seen in the video including Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) with a nasty scar, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), as well as newcomers Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds) and Brynden Tully (Clive Russell).

“Game of Thrones” is based on the bestselling, seven-novel fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin. As the Los Angeles Times’ Carolyn Kellogg reported last month, fans of the book series also have often been frustrated waiting for the next tome in the series to hit shelves. Martin takes his time completing the next in the series, but as Kellogg notes they are “massive books, intricately woven.”

Season 3 will be based on the first half of “A Storm of Swords,” the third novel in the series.

Earlier this month, HBO announced it had signed Martin to a two-year overall deal to develop new shows for the channel. Passionate fans of the books let it be known that this was just another impediment to getting their next literary fix. At least fans of the TV show know exactly how long they’ll have to wait. Let the countdown begin.

[For the record, 4:44 p.m. Feb. 24: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified Kit Harington as a Season 3 newcomer to “Game of Thrones.”]